Orthodontists Offer Sweet Incentives for Tricky Halloween Treats

Annual buy-back program expects to collect 16 tons of candy

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The average American consumes more than
24 pounds of candy per year, and a sizeable portion of that indulgence is
eaten around Halloween*. For most people, this year's candy noshing will
simply create an expanded beltline. However, for the more than 5 million North
Americans in orthodontic treatment, Halloween treats can pose more tricky
consequences.
To help ease candy temptation this Halloween, hundreds of members of the
American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) will sponsor candy buy-back
programs in their offices. The initiative, which takes place immediately after
Halloween, encourages patients of participating AAO members to bring their
'sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy' treats into their orthodontist's office and
exchange them for braces-friendly alternatives such as movie tickets, gift
certificates or cash. This year, AAO members are expected to collect at least
32,000 pounds -- or 16 tons -- of candy**.
The days immediately following Halloween are among the busiest of the year
for orthodontists as they add emergency appointments to their schedules and
repair braces damaged when patients indulge in inappropriate treats. This
year, Halloween falls on a Friday, and many orthodontists' offices are closed
on the weekend. A broken bracket or loose wire could make for an uncomfortable
holiday weekend -- for both kids and their parents. Staying away from those
tricky treats can prevent an emergency trip to the orthodontist, which could
mean missed work for parents and time lost from school for young patients.
Broken braces have the potential to prolong treatment.
"Each October the AAO encourages all orthodontic patients to have a fun
and safe Halloween, but to keep in mind that some treats are not
braces-friendly. If you have braces, you should avoid any foods that are
sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy," says Raymond George, Sr., DMD, an
orthodontist and president of the AAO. "If orthodontic patients are careful
about the Halloween treats they eat, they can keep their braces intact and
should be able to finish treatment on time and with good results."
So what happens to all of that candy collected by candy buy-back sponsors?
Some AAO members donate it to local organizations and charities or send it
overseas to sweeten the lives of those serving in the military.
Orthodontic patients may contact their orthodontists to learn if they
sponsor a candy buy-back program. For braces-friendly tips and recipes, or to
find an orthodontist near you, visit http://www.braces.org.
About the AAO
The AAO comprises 15,500 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.
Founded in 1900, the AAO supports research and education leading to quality
patient care and promotes increased public awareness of the need for and
benefits of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontists are uniquely qualified to
correct improperly aligned teeth and jaws. They are specialists in the
diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.
Orthodontists receive two to three years of specialized education beyond
dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth. Only
those with this education may call themselves "orthodontists," and only
orthodontists may be members of the AAO. The AAO's Web site is
http://www.braces.org.
For more information visit our internet press kit at
http://www.braces.org/nohm.
* According to the U.S. Census Bureau
** The 2008 candy buy-back projection is based on the number of AAO
members who said in a 2007 survey that they planned to sponsor a
buy-back program (662) and the average amount of candy collected per
participating member in 2006 (50 pounds).

Aimee DeVoll, 314-552-6744
adevoll@webershandwick.com

Pam Paladin, 314-993-1700, ext. 524
ppaladin@aaortho.org

SOURCE American Association of Orthodontists

Aimee DeVoll, +1-314-552-6744, adevoll@webershandwick.com, for American
Association of Orthodontists; or Pam Paladin of American Association of
Orthodontists, +1-314-993-1700, ext. 524, ppaladin@aaortho.org